My daughter (aged 15) is due to have a phone appointment on Monday with a paediatric endocrinologist, after being reluctantly referred by a general paediatrician. If anyone could advise on blood test results I’d really appreciate it. Just as a bit of background, she was referred by GP to a paediatrician who said her symptoms indicate hypothyroidism - 4 months missed periods, digestive problems, feeling cold, dry skin, aching limbs and free T3 of 11.1. After the test results below he changed his mind and said her symptoms are not thyroid related and she should be tested again in six months. I insisted that she be referred for more testing.
We’re still waiting for results from a third blood test taken two weeks later which should be more complete but these are the results from the second test:
TSH 2.47
Free T4 10.3 (on blood test no. 1 two to three weeks earlier this was 11.1)
Sodium 140
Urea 3.2
Creatinine 54
Total bilirubin 7
Albumin 53
Cortisol 266
Ferritin 187
Thyroid peroxidase abs <9
Coeliac screen tissue transglutaminase 0.40
The doctor said the slightly high albumin isn’t anything to worry about but I don’t understand why it is high. My daughter is very healthy, exercises a lot and doesn’t eat junk food. She’s in a healthy weight range but at the lower end, she’s always been petite. The doctor asked for her weight then said if she’s overweight she might have pcos. So he wasn’t listening.
Thanks so much for any advice!
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Capri20
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For full Thyroid evaluation your daughter needs TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
NHS refuses to test TG thyroid antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative (as in your daughters case)
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early morning
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Thanks, I’ve asked for the full bloods test, b12 etc three times now, first two tests they weren’t done. Hopefully blood test no 3 will include these, will post when I get the results
In your introduction you mentioned the FT3 was 11.1 - I think you meant the FT4. That looks low in range - even without your lab range ! So more than likely the FT3 will be low too.
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